Popsicle Catapult is a fun engineering experiment where kids can build their own catapult and hit targets! One can also customize it to make it an ‘Angry Birds’ game. Through this experiment, kids can learn about energy storage and conversion of energy. For the older kids, they can learn about the concept of levers.

Now, insert the other end of the rubber band between the two popsicles.

Insert a screw into the hole.

Insert the screw of the catapult arm into the wooden base.

Turn the wooden base upside down holding the arm firmly.

Put the nut and fasten both the ends.

Images for Instructions for Popsicle Catapult

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Catapult Experiment

Working Principle of Popsicle Catapult :

When we pull back the string of the catapult, potential energy gets stored in it. Potential energy is the energy of position. Once it is released, it is converted to kinetic energy which is the energy of motion.

Catapult is an example of a 3rd class lever. A lever is a machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod raised at a balancing point. It has an effort, a balancing point and load. In a 3rd class lever, the effort is in the middle, balancing point and load on the ends.

Another example of a 3rd class lever is a stapler! The handle acts as effort, one end acts as the fulcrum which is also known as point of balance and the pusher end acts as the load.